Turn2us launches scheme across Yorkshire and North West England to help with energy bills

As living costs continue to climb, Turn2us constantly hears from families across the UK that are struggling to make ends meet. Despite the summer months, families are still facing the challenge of paying energy costs that show no sign of easing.

Across the north, the effects are particularly being felt. Across Yorkshire and the Humber, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, more than eight out of ten (84%) of households are worrying about paying their energy bills. In response, Turn2us is delivering a scheme across the region to support low incomes families with replacement boilers and home insulation.

Partnership with the Green Deal Factory

Turn2us has partnered with the Green Deal Factory – which is one of the companies delivering the Government’s Green Deal scheme - to launch the initiative - which is open to any home owners and tenants living across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Through this new partnership, people on low incomes can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to see if they are entitled to a free boiler and loft and wall insulation to help save money on energy bills for years to come. The free, easy-to-use calculator helps people struggling to make ends meet find out what additional help they may be entitled to in the form of welfare benefits.

Many people resorting to extreme measures to pay their energy bills

This new scheme comes at a time when the shortfall between energy bills and what people can afford to pay has increased by almost £200 in the last ten years. As a result people are resorting to extreme measures to pay their bills. Almost a half (49%) across the region would risk endangering their health and wellbeing by not heating their homes, while almost a third (32%) had to rely on the financial support of family and friends to cover their energy bills.

Turn2us Director's comment

Alison Taylor, Director of Turn2us said: “With over a million people a year checking their benefit entitlement using our benefit calculator we are delighted to be working with the Green Deal Factory to offer additional support to help people manage their energy costs. With the climbing cost of living and the huge burden of energy bills for many people it’s clear that this free and easy to use service has never been more relevant and needed.”